Trafficker of teen gets 25 years

Records show Fayetteville man listed girl online as ‘escort’

FAYETTEVILLE -- A Fayetteville man who admitted prostituting a teenage girl was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison and five years of supervised release Thursday in U.S. District Court in Fort Smith.

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Doncouri Wells, 38, pleaded guilty Nov. 21 to sexual trafficking of a child. Wells had faced up to life in prison.

Fayetteville police and FBI agents were alerted June 8 by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to an advertisement for prostitution that was posted on a website under the "escort" section. The ad depicted a suspected minor from Fayetteville.

Law enforcement officials located the girl and confirmed that she was 16. During an interview, the girl said she had been engaging in sexual acts for money in Northwest Arkansas, and she identified her "pimp" by the street name "D."

She told police that "D" took digital photographs of her and posted them online under his account for the purpose of prostitution. The girl told police that in early June she had sex with several adult men in exchange for money in a room rented by "D" at a Fayetteville motel.

The girl told police that she had told "D" she was 16 years old before he posted her photos.

In a photo lineup, she identified Wells as "D." During the subsequent investigation, FBI agents were able to link the advertisements to Wells.

On July 17, Wells admitted to promoting the prostitution of the girl.

At the time, Wells was on parole for a conviction for possession of methamphetamine. Wells was convicted previously of at least two felonies for violent or drug-related offenses. He is considered a career offender.

Wells' wife, Sherwanda Body Wells, also was arrested and charged in the case. She pleaded guilty Jan. 27 to aiding and abetting another in the use of interstate communications in aid of racketeering.

She is awaiting sentencing, but no date has been set.

State Desk on 03/28/2015

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